7-9 March
others to commit acts of violence, no one will dispute you. If
you mean to imply that it is illegal in public speech to attack
Jews or the conduct of Jews in Britain, I strongly dispute it as
introducing an entirely new principle to British Government
and law. We have as much right to attack Jews as members
of the Labour Party have the right to attack anyone who
possesses capital, to say nothing of their advocacy of class war.
We have far more right to attack Jews than Communists and
some members of the Labour Party have the right to attack
the Crown.
"You appeared to suggest in your speech that Jews were the
only people in this country immune from criticism or from
attack in public speech. If you did not mean to suggest that,
it is only proper that the matter should be made clear/'
Sunday 8 M. SARRAUT'S BROADCAST
M. Sarraut, the French Prime Minister, broadcast a state-
ment to the French people in reply to the German action. He
said that the German people, having violated their engage-
ments, offer to contract fresh ones.
"I shall not consider these proposals, for two reasons. First,
because the double example given us by the German Govern-
ment, within the space of a year, of the unilateral repudiation
of solemn engagements can give us no confidence in their new
proposals. The second reason is even more obvious. In con-
tempt of the most established law, the German Government
sent important forces into the demilitarised zone, and that
without having previously announced their intention of over-
riding their obligations, and even without having sought to
enter into negotiations on the subject. We have been confronted
with the fait accompli in its most brutal form.
"There can be no peace in Europe, no more international
relations, if these methods become general. In opposing them
we are serving the cause of the European community. The
French Government, for their part, are firmly resolved not to
negotiate under threats. The very fact that, in contempt of
solemn engagements, German soldiers are now stationed on
the banks of the Rhine, forbids all negotiations for the moment."
Monday 9 MR. EDEN ON BRITISH POLICY
In the House of Commons Mr. Eden, after summarising the
communications which he had received from the German.
Government, declared that the course taken by the German
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